Incubator



Jan. 8, l-935. A, H. BRAIN ET Al. 1,987,462

INCUBATOR Filed Aug. 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Alber Henri-3 BTW Frederick @torse Tum mms lNv Nro, S

Jan. 8, 1935.

A. H. BRAIN ET AL Filed Aug. 28, 1933 INCUBATR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lh .lul

60 I y|' e i e 57 4G 4% rg. '63

D v'/-ZO 55 v u Il mberJf-Henr 59@ F/CL; Fredumk George, lmmm s 47 47 j nqviNTor/ 47 45 44 4,5 L

Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNI-TED INCUBA'ron panycfGreat Britain Application AugustZS, 1S33," Serial-NOL`i687,148 InJGreat Britain AprilV 14, 1932 1o Clarins.

This invention relates to'improvements in 'in-A cubators and has for its object to provide ak generally improved construction inwhich'the Vair Within the incubatorwill be efciently mixed and substantially uniformly distributed throughout the body yof ,eggsbeingzincubated and/ or hatched.

Referring to the drawings:-

Figure an end 'elevational lview, partly in sectioinoi" ,one form lof vincubatorconstructed in accordance .with this invention.

Figure 2 isa longitudinal elevational view, partly-.insectionitakenron lines 2;2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an 4enlarged detail of part of the structure Ashown in Fig. 2.

ilig-ure 4 isA aperspective view of Va detail.

Figure 5 is a. substantially` longitudinal 'sectional .View .of i a ,modified construction."

Figure 6 isa circuit diagram of the` heaters and tbermostats In the construction illustrated in Figures l to 4 .ci .the accompanying .drawings lthe incubator comprises a casing ory container 6 divided into an incubating compartment 7 and a hatching com#V partment 8 by means of atransverse partitionQ extending .entirelyacrossthe `section of the casing Iso as-to separate .entirely the two vcompartments.

In the incubating compartment the trays `ior theleggs; being incubated-are mounted Vfor periodic tiltingmovement; andv all these-trays, such as are shown at 10,.are mounted in a common -framework sothat by moving this .frame all the Atrays mounted therein can lbe tilted in unison'.

The frame is constructed `from angle section metal and comprises an outer-skeletonvboxelike frame llwith stiiening'members12o-f strip --rnetal across the back and with transverseguides 13 of anglersection for the traysto be inserted 'in the frame.

The frame is mounted for limited rotation abouta horizontally disposedishait 14 and is supported onthe shaft by means ofball bearingsl lo" cated in each of two bearing plates 15 secured to the frame 1l by means of diagonale 16 of strip metal.

The various members of the frame maybe secured together by .rivets or by spot welding, and the diagonale llmay be secured tothe frame l1u and v-to-any of the transverse guidesv 13 across which 4vthe-diagonals vpass.`

The shaftglfi Vis adapted for continuous r-.otation within thecasing, and in order to ensuremixe ing and circulation ofthe air Vwithin the cas-'- ing, mixing members are vmounted on thes'hat, one oneither side ofthe frame 11. A further mixing member is `mounted -onthe endiof-lthe shaft projecting through/the transverse( partition 9, this last mentioned" mixing member-`being (c1. iisg-37) adapted'r for mtation'V in the hatchingAVV compartment 8f Each mixing f member comprises v`a central v'boss l'vflreyed or otherwi'sescured'to the shaft and four blades-'V18v secured to lthe -Abss vproject jsub'` stantially radially therefrom. vThe bladesfare'se? cured toprojecting'ribs 19on the boss, these'rirb's being formed integral' with the bossror secured thereto, andl rivets or .Qscr'eiv's`V maybe used for connecting'rthe blades v to the projec'zticiris'.`

Each blade isv twisted'br bn'tfoitof thfcorri-f-l mon plane "through the 'centre lines ofjthe bladesf as shown clearly in Figure 3, vso that the air is in part Vdirected 'parralleltoY the airis ofrotatiori and through'the Itrays" supported withink the 'comparte' ment. The mixing irribers -in each'co'rr'ipart. ment are constructedf'as described above, but the inclination or twisting` Aof tlfi'ebladesis opposdin the mixers in the vinculaaltirig compartment 'asis shown in Figureliso that the air currents lset up by thesemembers oppose one another tofproy duce an essaient churnngfandfmixiag' of tiieairl andto"rriinimizeanyfdeied currentsin a single' direction.

A stationary Supporting" yframe is provided'for the' trays in theA hatching compartment, this" frame being constructed 'in a 'similar' manner to ythe 4frame '11-fr`o`in4 angle section` mtal 'and' with transverse?horizontally disposed" guides Y'21' also of vangie section; the trays" 22V being sudden into these guides frointhefront vof the machiief In order'to'prev'ent the trays inth'e'ha'.t'cl'iingv compartment being pushed fbeyond the xtremi' ties ofthe guides, the'en'ds pffone-f'the arms of theangleslZlfarebent over "as at 23 to project across the end ofthe channel, each end23` form ing a limiting-'stop against Which-the rear end'of a tray engages `wher'ith`e"latt'er isiullyinsergted in the-guides.- Ii de'sired, 'however', a Vstrip' off metal mayloe` secured `between each lpair 'of guides across thel end to function in a similar' manner as a limiting stop;

inl the case 'of lthe'fg'uide's f or the `f rame 'l1 both ends of one arm of each chanrielfare ben't across to form stops/ias shown'at2fi in'Figure 3 sofas redimir the movement ofvthe'gtrays'in both 'di-1 rection's-,- andin t'hiscasef when the iframe fis in they posmonl withlthe guides iis 'substantially non` zontal I'the trays Yarefinserted 'in a slightly down# wardly in'cli ned"direction,vv namely-over the Vstops vat the^ forward gend of the guides; yWhen'thejt'rayrs are fully inserted -in'the framefthefront edge of the'trayis allowed' 'tof'all behi'n'd fthe v'stops at the ,front ends of the guides, and wliehituis desired to lr'erriove a t'rayfthe firent"'end"n'ius'ty be rst liftedioverhthe iront-stops. yBy thismeans whenftl1eljrame-ll-is tiltedin eitherdirection around thei shaft 14 the trays are preventediro'm" leaving the guidesusince the weight offthetrays andtheeggs?'retainseach'tray uporiftheguides 13, and the stops 24 prevent these trays sliding out of the guides in either direction.

In the case of the trays 22 in which are positioned the eggs in the hatching stages or final stages of incubation it is unnecessary to tilt these eggs, and the supporting frame can therefore be secured to the floor of the casing, and it is only necessary to provide stops at the rear ends of the guides.

In order to retain the frame 11 in an adjusted position and to control the movement from the exterior of the incubator, an arm 25 is connected to two opposite corners of the frame by means of bolts 26. This arm extends diagonally across the end of the frame so that the bolts 26 are outsidethe extremities of the path of movement of the blades 18 as will be appreciated from the section shown in Figure 1, and at its centre part the arm is provided with a boss 27 secured to one end of an annular sleeve 28 which is disposed within a sleeve 29 on a bearing plate 30 secured to the end wall of the casing.

The sleeve 28 projects through the plate 30, and a handle 31 is secured to the sleeve by means of a metal strap 32 so that .the frame 11 can be moved around the shaft 14 from the exterior of the incubator by operating the handle 31.

In order to limit the movements of vthe-frame and to retain it in an adjusted position a rack 33 is secured to the end wall of the incubator, this rack having slots or recesses 34 at the ends and at an intermediate central point for cooperation with a spring pressed pawl moved by means of a trigger 35 provided on the handle.

The shaft 14 is supportedin a ball race 36 mounted within the sleeve 28, a pulley 37 being secured to the end of the shaft so that this shaft and the mixing member secured thereto can be rotated continuously through a belt drive 38 from a pulley shown in dotted lines at 39, this pulley being driven by a suitable electric or other motor.

The mixing members can be rotated on the shaft 14 mounted within the ball race 36 and a further race 40kmounted in a bearing plate 41 secured to the transverse partition 9, whilst the frame 11 can be given any desired periodic tilting movement, to alter the inclination of the eggs in the trays mounted therein, by operating the handle 31 and rotating the sleeve 28 around the ball race 36 and within the sleeve 29 of the bearing plate 30.

Ventilators of the hit-and-miss type are provided near the upper and lower horizontal edges of the ends of the casing 6 as at 42 and 43, forming the outlet and inlet ventilators respectively, and each ventilator is individually controllable so that the air admitted or exhausted at any point across the section of the incubator can be controlled as desired.

By this means the carbonio acid content of either compartment can be adapted to the conditions required for incubating and hatching respectively. Since it is desirable to retain most of the carbonic acid in the incubator during the rst stages of incubation both sets of ventilators in the incubating compartment may be retained closed for the first ten days, since the carbonio acid given off by the eggs in this period is relatively small. n

The proportion of carbonio acid desirable for satisfactory incubation is about fifty parts in ten thousand parts of air, and such a proportion in the incubating compartment will be found satisfactory. u

In the case of the eggs Vin the flnal stages of incubation, namely from the eighteenth to the twenty-first day, the quantity of carbonio acid evolved is higher, andthe carbonio acid content of the air in the compartment 8 may be allowed to rise to one hundred or one hundred and fifty parts in ten thousand parts of air, the ventilators being adjusted to allow these conditions.

The carbonio acid content in either compart ment can be estimated by means of devices or apparatus well known for this purpose.

Electric heaters are provided at 44 and 45 in the compartment 7 and at 46 in the compartment 8, the supply to each heater being controlled by means of a thermostat illustrated diagrammatically at 47, so that when the temperature within either compartment exceeds that desirable, the supply to the heaters is cut off until the radiation from the exterior surface of the casing and the conduction through the walls reduces the temperature within the incubator, when the heaters are again connected in circuit.

A water tray 48 is provided in the compartment '7, and in order to control the amount of moisture in the air in this compartment a cover 49 is provided fitting closely over the tray, this cover having a` number of slots 50 extending radially from a central point, the area of slots exposed being controlled by means of a slide 51 having correspondingly formed slots and being pivoted at 52 to the cover 49. This slide is controlled through a wire or other suitable cable 53, a spring`54 being provided to move the slide into the position in which the slots are closed, and the slide being moved against the action of this spring by means of a suitable handle or control knob 69 secured to the wall of the incubator.

By this means the moisture content of the air in the incubating compartment can be adjusted, and it has been found that a moisture content of about fifty per cent saturation is satisfactory in the case of the incubating compartment, this being determined by means of a hygroscope or humidity indicating device of any well-known form.

A moisture tray 55 is provided in the compartment 8 without any control of the exposed area since the moisture required in this compartment is considerably higher than that required in the compartment 7, but if desired a control device as illustrated in Figure 4 may be applied to this tray as well as to the tray 48.

A door is provided for each compartment to allow access to the interior of the casing, each door being of convenient size to allow trays to be inserted into the frames l1 and 20. Glass panels may be provided in each door so that the interior of the incubator can be inspected, the thermometers showing the temperature of the air within the incubator being preferably disposed on the inside of each door for inspection through the glass panel, and a suitable light maybe provided in each compartment to facilitate such inspection.

In the alternative construction illustrated in Figure 5 the incubating compartment 56 and the hatching compartment 57 are disposed one above the other, being separated by a horizontal partition 58 and a vertical partition 59, the arrangement and disposition of the framework for the trays, the tilting mechanism for this framework and the mixing members being substantially identical with that described with reference to the construction illustrated in Figures l and 2. Y

The mixing member for the hatching compartment comprises four flat blades 60 secured to the boss on the end of the shaft 14, since it is not portion of the deposit is confined to the hatching desiredto direct part of the air longitudinally.

ofv7 the shat, ,and thismixer is disposed within ak narrow compartment 61 at the side of the-compartment 56. The air moved by this mixer 60 is directed downwardly.. into the compartment 57, and an inlet lventilator is provided at 62 with an outlet ventilator at'63 for the compartment 57.

, In order-to obtain access to the mixing member 60 or to lthebearingin the partition 59, part of theend Wall, as at64, is made removable, being secured in` a readily?. detachable manner by means of latches or other suitable fasteners.

Heaters, water tra-ys and thermostats are provided for the two compartments as described with reference to the previous construction, but in modified positions-determined by the modications in the construction.

Theinletventilators for the` compartment 56 are disposed. at the lower horizontal edge of this compartment in the end Wall as at 65, but the outlet ventilators are provided in the roof as shown at 66.

This modied construction is particularly suitable lfor small machines since the length is con-v siderably reduced, and it is unnecessary to have a, hatching compartment equal in area in vertical section'to that of the incubatingcompartment, which only accommodates a single column of trays, In the case of small machines it is an advantage to reduce the effective length of the machine.

The incubator illustrated in Figure 5 functions exactly as described with reference to that illustrated in Figures l to 4, the modications beingl. structural ratherthan functional, and residing in the re-arrangement of the parts.

With the incubator illustrated and described the hatching compartment is entirely Separated from the incubating compartment, this being desirable in that communication of disease or compartment.

In order to facilitate still further the cleaning operations, the supporting frame for the trays in the hatchingcompartment may be removable,

andboth compartments may have an inner metal lining, the main casing comprising one or more layers of Wood with or without intermediate packing of heating insulating material.

What we Aclaim then ist- 1. An incubator comprising an interiorly heated casing, a group of egg trays in said casing, a supporting frame for said trays, a shaft mounted horizontally in said casing, bearings for supporting the said frame on the said shaft,

said supporting frame being mounted for oscillatory movement around said shaft to tilt eggs in said trays,A means for restraining said frame in certain definite positions, a mixing member on said shaft at each side of said frame, means for rotating said shaft and the mixing members therewith; each mixing member having a number of blades shaped to direct air in part laterally of the mixing member and between the egg trays,

andthe .shaping `of the blades ofthe two mixing members/..beins opposedisoithat air--currents'are set upginppposite directions to mixand-churn denite positions, a mixing member on said shaft at each side of said frame, each mixing member having a number `of blades extending radially iromacentral boss, the leading face of each blade beinginclined to the common plane through the centre lines of the blades to direct air in part laterally of the mixingv member, and means for rotating said shaft and the mixing members therewith.

3. An incubator comprising, an heated casing, agro-up of egg trays in said casing, aV supporting frame fork said trays, a shaft mounted horizontally in said casing, bearings for supporting the said frame on the said shaft, said supporting frame being mounted for oscillatory movement around said shaft tol tilt eggs in said trays, means for-restraining` said frame in certain deiinite positions, a mixing member on said shaft at each side. of said frame, means for rotating said shaft and themixing members therewith, each mixing member having a number of blades extending,Y radially from` a central boss, the leading face of each blade being inclined to the common plane through the centre lines of the. blades to direct air in part laterally of the mixingmember, andthe inclination of the blades of thetwo mixing members being opposed, so that air currentsareset up in opposite directions to mix and churn the air in the casing.

4. An incubator comprising an interiorly heated casing, a, transversevpartition dividing said casing into separated incubating and hatchingv further bearing in the casing Wall parallel to said partition, said shaft being supported in said bearings for rotary movement, said supporting frame being mounted for oscillatory movementy around said shaft to tilt eggs in said trays, means for restraining said frame in certain definite positions, a mixing member on said shaft at each side of said frame, a further stationary egg tray framework in said hatching compartment, a mixing member secured to said shaft and located in said hatching compartment, and means for rotating said shaft and the mixing members therewith.

5.l Anincubator comprising an interiorly heated casing, a transverse partition dividing said casing into separated incubating and hatching compartments, a group of egg trays in said incubating compartment, a supporting frame for said trays, a shaft extending horizontally through saidincubating compartment and projecting into said hatching compartment, a bearing in said transverse partition, a further bearing in the casing wall parallel to said partition, said shaft being supported in said bearings for rotary movement, said supporting frame being mounted for oscillatory movement around said shaft totilt eggsl in v said trays, means for restraining said frame in certain definite positions, a mixingmember on said shaft at each side of saidframe, afurther.

interiorly` interiorly` stationary egg tray framework in said hatching compartment, a mixing member secured to the end of said shaft in said hatching compartment, each mixing member having a number 'of blades extending radially from a central boss, the leading face of each blade being inclined tothe common plane through the centre lines of the blades to direct air in part laterally of the mixing member, and means for rotating said shaft and the mixing members therewith.

6. An incubator comprising an interiorly heated casing, a vertical transverse partition dividing said casing into side by side incubating and hatching compartments, a shaft extending horizontally through said incubating compartment and projecting into said hatching compartment, bearings in the vertical end wall of the incubating compartment and in said transverse partition, said shaft being supported in said bearings for rotary movement, means for rotating said shaft in said bearings, a group of egg trays in said incubating compartment, a supporting frame for said trays, said supporting frame being mounted for oscillatory movement around said shaft to tilt eggs in said trays, means for restraining said frame in certain definite positions, a mixing member on said shaft at each side of said frame, a further stationary egg tray framework in said hatching compartment, a mixing member secured to the end of said shaft in said hatching compartment, each mixing member having a number of blades extending radially from a central boss, the leading face of each blade being inclined to the common plane through the centre lines of the blades to direct air in part laterally of the mixing member, and the inclination of the blades of the first two mixing members being opposed so that opposed air currents are set up to churn and mix the air in the incubating compartment, and means for rotating said shaft and the mixing members therewith.

7. An incubator comprising an interiorly heated casing, a transverse partition dividing said casing into separated incubating and hatching compartments, a shaft extending horizontally through said incubating compartment and projecting into said hatching compartment, bearings in the vertical end wall of the incubating compartment and in said transverse partition for supporting said shaft in said casing, means for rotating said shaft in said bearings, a group of egg trays in said incubating compartment, a supporting frame for said trays, bearings on said frame to support said frame on said shaft, said supporting frame being oscillatory on said shaft to tilt eggs in said trays, means for restraining said frame in certain definite positions, a mixing member on said shaft at each side of said frame, a further stationary egg tray framework in said hatching compartment, a mixing member secured to the end of said shaft in said hatching compartment, each mixing member having a number of blades extending radially from a central boss, the leading face of each blade being inclined to the common plane through the centre lines of the blades to direct air in part laterally of the mixing member and the inclination of the blades of the first two mixing members being opposed, so that air currents are set up in opposite directions to mix and churn the air in the incubating compartment.

8. An incubator comprising an interiorly heated casing, a group of egg trays in said casing, a supporting frame for said trays, a shaft mounted horizontally in said casing, said supporting frame being mounted for oscillatory movement around said shaft to tilt eggs in said trays, bearings in spaced vertical walls of said casing for supporting said shaft, the bearing in the end vertical wall of the casing having a rotatable sleeve, an arm secured to said sleeve on the interior of said casing, connections from said arm to said supporting frame, said sleeve being movable around said bearing to oscillate said frame, means for restraining said frame in certain definite positions, a mixing member on said shaft at each side of said frame, and means for rotating said shaft and the mixing members therewith.

9. An incubator comprising an interiorly heated casing, a group of egg trays in said casing, a supporting frame for said trays, a shaft mounted horizontally in said casing, bearings in said supporting frame for engaging said shaft, further bearings in said casing for supporting said shaft, means f or rotating said shaft in said bearings, said supporting frame being oscillatory on said shaft to tilt eggs in said trays, an arm on the interior of said casing and associated with one of said bearings, connections from said arm to said supporting frame, said arm being movable with said bearing lto oscillate said frame, means for restraining said frame in certain definite positions, a mixing member on said shaft at each side of said frame, each mixing member having a number of blades extending radially from a central boss, the leading face of each blade being inclined to the common plane through the centre lines of the blades to direct air in part laterally of the mixing member, and the inclination of the blades of the two mixing members being opposed, so that air currents are set up in opposite directions to mix and churn the air in the incubating compartient.

10. An incubator comprising an interiorly heated casing, a transverse partition dividing said casing into separated incubating and hatching compartments, a shaft extending horizontally through said incubating compartment and projecting into said hatching compartment, a group of egg trays in said incubating compartment, a supporting frame for said trays, bearings in the vertical end wall of the incubating compartment and in said transverse partition, bearings in said supporting frame for engaging said shaft, means for rotating said shaft in said bearings, said supporting frame being oscillatory on said shaft to tilt eggs in said trays, an arm on the interior of said casing and associated with one of said bearings, connections from said arm to said supporting frame, said arm being movable with said bearing to oscillate said frame, means for restraining said frame in certain definite positions, a mixing member on said shaft at each side of said frame, a further stationary egg tray framework in said hatching compartment, a mixing member secured to the end of said shaft in said hatching compartment, each mixing member having a number of blades extending radially from a central boss, the leading face of each blade being inclined to the common plane through the centre lines of the blades to direct air in part laterally of the mixing member, and the inclination of the blades of the first two mixing members being opposed, so that air currents are set up in opposite directions to mix and churn the air in the incubating compartment.

ALBERT HENRY BRAIN. FREDERICK GEORGE TIMMINS. 

